Jack McDowell's blog comments irk Ozzie Guillen

But McDowell's contention on his blog that Ozzie Guillen isn't Beckham's biggest booster didn't sit well Sunday morning with the Sox manager.

Several staff members read McDowell's comments on Guillen's computer. He wrote: "It seems manager Ozzie Guillen is not a big fan of Beckham's. Every time the kid's name has been mentioned throughout the year, Ozzie has never uttered a positive word publicly about him."

Guillen chose his words carefully when responding to McDowell's blog.

"I respect everyone's opinion because that's the way people should be," said Guillen, who said he writes for two Web sites and a newspaper in Venezuela. "The thing I don't get is that I don't like this kid or talk about something they don't know about. That bothers me. I don't mind if people say I'm a bad manager. Whatever it is, it's fine with me because I've heard worse.

"But I put myself as if this kid is reading this article, it puts me on the spot with this kid."

Guillen believes the media built great expectations for Beckham too soon and that he tried to temper them.

"I know Chicago better than Jack McDowell," Guillen said. "I know Chicago better than (Gordon) Beckham. I just try to get fans and media to leave this kid alone and let him play the game."

Injury update: Guillen said pitcher Freddy Garcia, recently signed to a minor league contract, should resume throwing soon at the Sox's complex in Glendale, Ariz.

"Don't be surprised if Freddy is here because I think he's healthy enough to do it," Guillen said. "I don't know if we'll need him, but he'll be ready if we need him."